Judging Bennett

[JasonB]

Okay, my anger from Saturday's game has finally subsided a little and I can post again .

Granted, we should have won at home against a horrible team. Mistakes got in the way, and we are nowhere near the point where we can recover from critical mistakes.

I always *try* to think long term. And this is what I see. I don't think it is vaid to judge Bennett until he has a team filled with "above average" wac recruits as upperclassmen at each position. above average would mean that they are recruited by either big twelve or upper tier mid major schools.

Here is my list, position-by-position of how things stand right now:

QB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 3 (Bartel, Meeks, Phillips)
Below Average: 1 (Wallis)

RB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Munlin, inactive)
Below Average: 1 (Kincade)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (Massey)
Below Average: 1 (Fitzgerald)

FB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Brown)
Below Average: 2 (Williams, Swofford)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: None

WR:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Comet)
Average: 2 (Taylor inactive, Griffin)
Below Average: 2 (Rushbrook, Medlock)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: NONE
Average: 1 (Pellerin)
Below Average: 3 (Warren, Vinson, Clev.)

TE:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: 1 (Hrncir)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: 2 (Kennedy, Hodges)

OG:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Hargis)
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 2 (Morton, Boren)
Average: 2 (BK, Poulos)
Below Average: 2 (Guidry, Eidson)

OT:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Harris)
Below Average: 1 (Neal)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (DJ)
Average: 2 (Burley, Peveto)
Below Average: 1 (Urbanus)

C:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Reindl)
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (Turner)
Below Average: 1 (Smith)

DE:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: 2 (Williams, Glockzin)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (Delay)
Average: 1 (Stansbury)
Below Average: 2 (Rogers, Benson)

DT:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: 1 (Adami)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 2 (Jones, Karrington)
Below Average: 3 (Bonds, Denman, Berry)

OLB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (James
Average: 2 (DD Johnson, Bich)
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 2 (Muse, Clev.)
Below Average: 2 (Horton, Bey)

MLB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Lee)
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (Hall)
Below Average: 1 (Carrington)

CB:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 2 (Rutledge, Moodley)
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 6 (Hump, Barnett, McGee,
Moss, Gilmore, Turner)
Below Average: 1 (Dorsey)

SS:
Upperclass:
Above Average: 1 (Harris)
Below Average: 1 (Godfrey)
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 1 (Sturdivant)
Below Average: 1 (Hunt)

FS:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: 2 (Nn, Harper)
Below Average: None

K:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: McMurtray
Below Average: Wolcott

P:
Upperclass:
Above Average: None
Below Average: None
Lowerclass:
Above Average: Mentzal
Below Average: None

Looking at this, I would expect us to struggle at QB, RB, WR, TE, OG, OT, DT, FS, and the kicking game.

Luckily for us, Kincade came out of nowhere, Adami was a find, and the young DT and FS have played well. But you look at that list and it is no wonder why we struggle to throw the ball, block, and on special teams.

For next year: QB moves forward a little. RB gets better. FB still no depth, but the commit will help. FS improves, Kicking game improves.

OG guard, DE, and DT improve, but still not at the level we want them to be yet.

WR is a major hole. So is TE. OT and C will take a step back. OLB and CB both take a step back in expereince, even though they are better recruits.

My point is that there is a reason why we struggle this year, especially on offense. Next year we will see an improvement, but not as drastic as we might like. It is the year after that, the 4th year of the Bennett era, where we should see a dramatic improvement in the performance of the team.

[fbdad]

Godfrey and his torn ACL thank you for the "below average" rating.It's amazing how you in your infinite wisdom have the gall to sit back and rank players, some such as Godfrey who never played a down in their assigned position.Godfrey was Rico's backup and played primarily special teams where he did quite well according to his coaches of course I guess you know better.He was playing well against OS when he tore his ACL.

[gostangs]

I agree with your assesments for the most part - (except punter above average????). The expectations of most were not that we would even compete that much this year as we prepare for the future - but we should have beaten UTEP at home, and I can live with getting some tough breaks at Baylor and not quite pulling it out at Nevada - but we should beat a lesser team in our own house - and as much as I like Bennett, some of that falls on him. I am patient and will alway stick with the ponies - but we pay Bennett enough to expect a win when we are at home and favored by almost double digits. Time for some smart game day coaching and some good luck for a change. How about Saturday?

[gostangs]

fbdad - I think Jason is ranking them as per their level as a recruit - not their play - (for example Adami was not recruited heavily - but who can criticize his play?)

Is that not correct J?

[fbdad]

Jason, accept my apologies ,I'm not having a good day, I misread your post although I may add that Chris had offers from both Houston and Navy along with numerous IAA and DIV2 schools.I don't think either Houston or Navy qualified as upper tier schools.Again sorry for the blast.

[Ikus]

OK, I misread that, too. I nearly lost my lunch over the idea that Kincade - the #8 rusher in SMU history - was listed as "below average." Thanks for the clarification.

[JasonB]

Sorry if I was not clear about that . This ranking is completely based on recruiting rankings, not performance on the field. Mentzal was considered a pretty good punting recruit out of HS, as was McMurtray at kicker. Adami was not recruited hard.

As for Chris, he hustles his but off. This is only indicative of who recruited him from a football standpoint. Houston I would consider lower tier CUSA (for the past few years, even though they are solid this year), and Navy is lower tier. I hope that no offense was taken here .

Even though we find some true diamonds in the rough, such as Adami (who if he is not named first team all-WAC this year it is a crime), for the most part we can't rely on that and expect to build a solid program.

I think that it is important that we all take a deep breath and give this some time. I count all of 11 active upperclass players who were considered solid recruits.

Next year that number grows to 15 or so. The year after that, it is just over 20. Once we get in the 20s, that is when you are talking about a very solid football team that will compete for the top of the WAC. 20 well recruited players with experience, who have talented younger players backing them up.

[Webmaster]

I appreciate JasonB on this board because he is informed and his analysis seems to always be from a fresh perspective.

Although like the NFL draft, this exercise is no way near an exact science, it does in a general way help clarify where we are and where we're going. Good job.

<small>[ 10-08-2003, 07:37 AM: Message edited by: Webmaster ]</small>

[Charleston Pony]

agree this was a pretty fair analysis of where we are and why...and what the prospects realistically look like for the immediate future. As the saying goes, the team with the best players will win 90% of the time. Nobody should expect any coach to come in here and work miracles. The disappointing thing is that we have talent enough to compete with several teams on our schedule (3 of 5 so far) and haven't found a way to win any games yet. This team has not played a really good game yet (that means few, if any turnovers). Hopefully, that day will come soon and these guys can taste some success and build a little confidence.

The bottom line is that until SMU has upperclass guys throughout the roster who were sought after by BCS schools or "upper crust" mid-majors as Jason says, we should not expect to compete for conference championships or even expect winning seasons. It will be something of a minor miracle if Bennett and his staff can string together 4-5 consecutive strong recruiting classes, given the program's last 15 yrs of futility. We should not underestimate the impact of Ford Stadium, Bennett's 1st recruiting class and his and his staff's connections with Texas H.S. coaches in this process. It is painful today, but I'm as optimistic as I've been in the last 15 yrs that things will get turned around...hopefully by the time we begin play in CUSA.

[HoustonStallion]

Originally posted by JasonB:
the 4th year of the Bennett era, where we should see a dramatic improvement in the performance of the team.

Don't know how true that is, but I keep telling myself that too.

[PlanoStang]

Great tracking JasonB! You must be on the coaching staff, or should be.

I know a lot about Bennett's story, and really like what I see, and don't want him fired even if we go 0-12 this year. My own brother butted heads with him, and claims he won 50% of the time personally blocking, etc. during Jr. High, and HS games between Longview, and Marshall schools.

Bennett claimed to be a football fan of SMU during
the Hayden Fry years while interviewing for our head coaching position. I was too in Longview maybe 2 years older during those years.

What I was hoping for was the innovative things Fry did like the "fake quick kick" on 3rd down which actually worked a couple of times. I think Fry invented the "end around" probably debuted during the 32-28 victory against top 10 Navy with Roger Staubach. It was done with track star John Roderick #23 which Tom Landry may have noted, and went after Bob Hayes Fry tried to ENGINEER ways to win with the people he had around during the CURRENT year.

Anyway, I see nothing of that with Bennett. No imagination on offense. Not a whole lot on defense either. REMEMBER THE FIELD MICE!
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